Imagine going to bed at night with an empty stomach rumbling from hunger, digging through dumpsters for your next meal, or filling yourself with glasses of water to insure you do not eat the small amount of food you’re saving to feed your children…

For over 30 years, impacting hunger has been, and will continue to be a focal point of action for IFM. IFM Food Pantry distributes bags of groceries the equivalent to 123,000 meals per year. Residents that live in Modesto, Ceres, Empire, Salida and Waterford who meet program criteria are eligible to receive groceries, baby food and infant formula.

IFM works with several community partners in a collaborative spirit to impact hunger through out the county.  IFM distributes surplus food, at no charge to over 45 non-profit member agencies. Some of our partners work exclusively from their location serving hot and/or cold meals or providing bags of groceries. Others tackle hunger by literally reaching out into the community; going to parks, shelters, trailer parks, etc and providing food in the form of meals or bags of groceries.

The pains of poverty are sharpening in California with hunger and food insecurity on the rise throughout the state. The cruelest of ironies is that some of the worst conditions in the state prevail among the poor and the working poor in the Central Valley region –

one of the nation’s centers of agricultural production. California as a whole is one of the world’s largest agricultural producers shipping both food and agricultural commodities to locations around the world. While most American’s equate hunger to famine-stricken Third-World nations, the fact is that our neighbors in our own community are finding it more difficult to put food on the table.

Governmental definitions coupled with inadequate systems to measure poverty provide us with only part of the story on hunger. Whether termed “low” food security or “very low” food security, the bottom line is this: throughout our nation and right here in Stanislaus County – many families and individuals do not have a sufficient amounts of food and are experiencing food deprivation and/or hunger to an undetermined degree.

Inter-Faith Ministries’ ongoing commitment has been challenged by the large increase in clients – both individuals and families - coming to IFM Food Pantry in need of food. IFM desperately needs community support to continue to provide this invaluable service to the residents throughout Stanislaus County and you can help by donating financially or donating food or donating your time & talent.

If you are in need of food, apply now for SNAP (Supplemental Food Nutrition Program) click here to go directly to their website.